Resin impregnating machine for fabric or like material



c. c. SACHS 2,611,336

RESIN IMPREGNATING MACHINE FOR FABRIC 0E LIKE MATERIAL Sept. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8, 1948 IN V EN TORI irme/uff Sept. 23, 1'952 c. c. sAcHs 2,511,336

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IN VEN TOR.'

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RESIN IMPREGNATING MACHINE FOR FABRIC OR LIKE MATERIAL Filed June 8, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 fare@ d .5km/5',

I N V EN TOR.'

BY www irme/vif C. C. SACHS Sept. 23, 1952 RESIN IMPREGNATING MACHINE FOR FABRIC OR LIKE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 8, 1948 INVENTOR.

BY @m6 Ifirmen/y Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE RESIN IIVREGNATING MACHINE FOR FABRIC OR LIKE MATERIAL Carrol C. Sachs, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to Alexander H. Kerr & Co., Inc., Los Angeles,

Calif.

Application June 8, 1948, Serial No. 31,743

'This invention relates to a device for uniformly and completely impregnating a web or mat of fabric or other porous material with afluid.

While the device ofthe'invention is adapted for impregnating into vsuch :webs iiuids of various kinds and compositionsfor particular purposes, it is the `general object of the present invention to provide an limpregnating device designed to force-into and through a web of porous, cellular or foraminous material such as fabric, felted glass iibers and the like, a resinou's fluid capable of polymerizationwhen the impregnated web is .subsequently subjected to heatunder pressure. It is the further object in such manner Vto produce a sheet of preferably translucent, water resistant material capable of withstanding considerable pressure when such pressure is fedgewise applied thereto. i

'WithA this and other obj ects in view, the invention resides in the combinations hereinafter described in -detail and drawings are hereto appended in which a preferred form of theinvention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of an impregnating device embodying the invention and with portions thereof broken away in order better to illustrate interi-or mechanisms thereof;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view `taken substan tially on line 2-2of Fig. '1 in the direction of the arrows; v v

Fig. 3 is alright" end view 'of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a'fragmentary end view of the device showing slight modications 'thereof and with parts of lframing thereof broken away for the sakeofjclearness; l

Fig.'5 is a sectional front elevational view of the right end of the device further illustrating the modifications of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a further modification of the invention the importance of 'which is hereinafter fully explained. a

The structure of the invention in the form i1- lustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of thedrawingsincludes, generally, a framing I which for the purpose of the description is shown mounted on casters 2,for operating purposes and for convenient transfer to any place where thedevice may be used. A pair `of guide rails 3,4 is rigidly mounted'on each side wallfof the frame,within which the flanges 5 of a plurality of 'bearings 6 are fitted to slide. Two of these bearing members are mounted within each track, substantially as 'indicated in the drawings. Thesebearings serve to support a pairv of shafts l, 8 in parallel relation to each other 12 claims. (c1. 118-227)y and mechanism is provided for adjustingthe relative positions of these shafts in the manner which will be explained presently. y Because these shafts and the mechanism associated therewith may be exactly alike, the following description is mostly `confined to the combination of oneV of the shafts and itis to be understood `that thisA description pertains equally `to the combination of the other shaft. v A drum 9 is rigidly secured to each shaft intermediate the side plates of the frame and this drum comprises an inner cylindrical wall I0 mounted between iianges I I, I2 and the partsare tightly and rigidly joined together as by welding operations, substantially as indicated at I3, I4. It is'irnportant to anote that these end anges eX- tend a distance beyond the peripheral surface vof the inner wall Iii for the purpose of supporting an outer wall member I 'I in spaced relation to the inner wall. rThis outer member is also welded in positioncn the end flanges substantially as indicated at t8 andi-9;; It is to be noted that the side walls of the frame are recessed, as indicated at 2i), 2l and that the drum assembly is lowered into these recesses ybefore Itherails 3, l are bolted in position'on'the Walls.

A wormgear 222 is lrigidly secured to the end of each shaft and these gears are jinpermanent mesh with worms 23, 23ewhich latter. are keyed on 'a shaft 522i, as indicated at 25 inthe drawings. The shaftfi'is through, a train offggears 2'6, 21 connected for rotation by a motor 28. :It is important `to note that the rthreadsof the worms 2 I, 2'3 are inclined right and le'ft in order to .cause the two drums to rotate in the Aoppositedirections indicatedby the arrows in Fig..3.

Itis important tor note also that the shafts. 1 and V8 are tubular and that they vcommunicate through exible conduits 30 withr a'source of Vsupply 'which in thepresent instance takes the form o1" areservoir'B i into which the resin, which forms the impregnating medium of the devicefis held stored. Any conventional type of pressure pump is cut into the conduits from the reservoir and it is in the drawings designated bylnumeral 3,2. But other means of lsupplying fluid under pressure may be substituted, if, preferred.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the space within the shaft communicates with, the space 3d between the inner and outer walls of thedrum through the-mediumof la'plurfality of tubular connections as, which extendradiauy from the shaftyhiough the inner wall t0.' There may befas rn-anytof these tubular connections ,as each installationfwill require-'andtheyare preferably uniformly spaced apart both axially and angularly. When the pump 32 is in operation, it is seen that fluid from the reservoir is forced through the conduits 30, the shaft 1 and the tubular` connections 35 into the peripheral chamber 34. It is, however, necessary to close the opposite end of the shaft and this may conveniently be done by fitting thereinto a screw plug 33. The entire peripheral surface of the outer shell I1 is, within the flanges Il, I2, shown made with a multiplicity of perforations 36 through which the fiuid within the annular chamber 34 is free to pass. It is important to note that, due to the great number of these equidistant perforations, the fluid passing to the outer surface of the drum becomes fairly evenly distributed thereon. It is, however, found necessary in order to provide more uniform distribution to mount on the outer periphery of the drum a series of layers of wire screen material, substantially as indicated at 40. I have found that layers of such screen material produce perfect distribution of the fluid, but wish it understood that the number of layers may vary to suit specific installations.

The two drums are, as above stated, rotated in opposite directions by the motor 28, but as the conduits 3D extending from the reservoir to the shafts remain stationary it becomes necessary to provide at the place where the conduit joins the shaft a slip joint 4l. When such joints are embodied in the structure, it is found that the shafts are free to rotate and yet are so tightly fitted to the conduits that no waste of the fiuid occurs.

As above explained, it is primarily the object of my invention to provide a device capable of impregnating a web of felted material with a resin capable of polymerization when subjected to heat under pressure. Such felted web of material is in the drawings indicated at 45 and it may be supported in anyv suitable manner (not shown) As the web is lowered through the space between the drums, in response to rotation thereof, it is found that the fluid expelled through the'drums will completely saturate the web and expel all air from the pores thereof. When the impregnating device at the same time is advanced along the support on which it is placed, it is found that the webv of saturated material will be deposited on the surface thereof in position for further treatment. As indicated in the drawings, inclined trays 41, 48 are placed beneath the drums in position to receive any fluid that may be wasted therefrom and to drain this fluid through a conduit 49 back into the reservoir 3|.

It was above stated that the bearings 6 are mounted for sliding movement within the tracks of the frame and they are so arranged in order to make it possible to adjust the two drums relative to each other, thereby to vary the space between the drums to suit webs of different thickness. Such adjustment may conveniently be effected in the manner which will now be described.

Bosses 55 and 56 are placed on one of the side plates of the frame at the front and rear edge thereof on the horizontal center line through the drums. These bosses are threaded to receive right and left threaded screws 51, 58, the inner ends of which are anchored within plates 59, 60 and the latter are rigidly bolted in position on the fianges of the bearings 5. Similar screws 6|, 62 are in like manner fitted to the other side plate of the frame and they are similarly anchored within plates 63, 64 of the bearing flanges at that end of the frame. To the outer edges of the four screws are rigidly secured identical sprocket wheels 65 and 86 and chains 61, 68 are hung on these wheels. When the screws are in this manner interconnected, it is found that the distance between the two drums may be varied without disturbing the parallel relation of one drum to the other. In order to render such adjustment more convenient, it may be found advisable to place cranks 69, 10 on one of the screws at the front and rear of the frame.

In cases where the composition of the web is so as to make it difficult for the impregnating fluid to expel all air from the pores thereof, it may be found more advantageous to modify the operation of the drum in such a manner that the impregnating fluid is forced through one only of the drums, in the manner above described. The circulating spaces within the other drum will in this case be connected to communicate with an air suction pump, the operation of which will cause all air within the web to be drawn away therefrom as the web in passing through the space between the two drums receives the uid expelled from the other drum.

When such modified structure is employed it is necessary to fit the suction drum with a cylindrical shield 50, having an axially directed opening 5I extending throughout the length of the drum and symmetrically extending above and below the center line of the two drums. 'I'his shield must, for reasons which will be explained presently, be supported on the flanged bearings 5 of the drum. It is for this purpose shown made in two sections, 13, 14 which may be hingedly joined on the horizontal center line of the shield as indicated at 15 and end plates 16, 11 are rigidly fitted into these sections to form therewith a cylindrical casing for the drum 9. 'I'he inner edges of the two sections are cut back to provide therebetween the axially directed opening 5|. As above stated, the shield must be fastened to the flanges of the bearings in order to prevent peripheral displacement thereof during the operation of the device and so that the shield will remain in its fixed relation to the drum during relative adjustment of the drums.

Illustrative of means for locking the shield against such displacement, I have shown an arcuate portion 18 of each of the endplates thereof extending through and freely seated in recesses 19 of the frame side walls. The shoulderportions 18 of the shield come to rest against the inner surfaces of the bearing flanges 5 when the drum assembly is lowered into position within the frame and screws are applied to lock said shoulder portions in position on these fianges, all substantially as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

It may be found advisable to provide such shield for both drums so as to insure more complete saturation of the web of material. When such shields are added to both drums, it is seen that either or both drums may be connected to pass the impregnating fluid into the web.

In the modified device illustrated in Fig. 6, only one drum is used and this drum may be identical with the drums shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It is shown hung within a framing and it is connected for rotation in any suitable manner. As in the device of Fig. 1, the hollow shaft 8 is fed from a reservoir or it is in any other suitable manner supplied with the impregnating solution.

The drum is centrally placed within the casing and mechanism is associated therewith for the purpose of feeding a web or mat of the material tobe impregnated over the surface of the drum in a manner which now will be described. As this feeding mechanism may be the same on both sides of the drum, only that at one side thereof will now be described in detail and it is understood that this description pertains equally to the mechanism at the other side of the drum. A shaft 9| extends horizontally through the framing in parallel relation to the drum axis and an arm 92 is mounted on this shaft at each end thereof. Fig. 6 being a cross-sectional view substantially through the center of the framing, only one of these arms is shown and it is to be understood that an identical arm is mounted at the other end of the shaft within the framing. A rod 93 is hung in the two arms in position to support a roller 94, the peripheral surface of which is tted with a soft rubber lining 95. A second shaft 96 is seated in the framing in parallel relation to the drum axis, a distance below the horizontal center of the drum. This shaft supports a roller 91 which may be identical with the aforenamed roller 9d.

The two rollers S4 and 91, Atogether with the two rollers symmetrically located at the other side of the drum, serve to support an endless belt 9S which, as indicated in the drawing, is bent over the four rollers and extended around the periphery of the drum. This belt is foraminous and it may conveniently be made from a sheet of wire screen, or any similar material.

The web of material, |00, is fed into the machine at one end thereof and it is by a ledge |0| guided over an additional roller |02, which may be identical with the aforenamed rollers. When the belt is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6, it is seen that, as the web is fed between the roller |02 and the belt, it will b e carried by the belt around the periphery of the roller 91 and into the space between the belt and the peripheral surface of the drum to be advanced through this space over the top of the drum and around rollers 91 and 91a, finally to be discharged over a ledge |04 for disposal in any required manner.

During this advance movement of the web, it is found that the solution which is fed along the periphery of the drum is given ample time completely to penetrate the web and it is important to note that any portion of the solution which maybe discharged through the web is free to pass through the foraminous belt and gradually by gravity to be deposited into trays |01 at the bottom of the framing. As in the above described device, conduits |012- may lead from these trays back to the reservoir in order that any overflow of the solution may be returned for further use. It may be found advisable tov provide shields at the bottom of the rollers and the drum as indicated at |03 for convenience in guiding the web to and from the drum. A shield |95 is placed in contact with the bottom portion of the drum to check ow of the solution through the foraminous surface thereof and so to prevent waste thereof.

As has been above explained, the webs of material which are fed through the machine may vary in thickness and consistency andY it is for this reason necessary in order correctly to guide the web through the machine to mount the rollers |02 and |02EL for horizontal adjustment relative to the rollers 91 and 91a. For the purpose of such adjustment, it isfound convenient to mount each roller on a shaft |06, which is hung in a frame consisting of arms |01 which 6 are hung on pivot rods |08, there being one fof these arms at. each end of the roller. In the upper end of the arm is seated a screw |09 'which' engages a ange ||0 of the framing and Va come pression spring is seated freely to encompass this screw. The purpose of this spring istol swing the frame on the vpivot rod |08 to maintain the roller |02 yieldingly pressed against the web asit `passes over the periphery thereof and,

as above stated, the suspension of the rollerv |0'2a, `at the other side of the drum, may be 'iden-'- tical with the one just described.

Means should be provided for maintaining 'the belt 98 under the tension required for the Vproper feeding of the web over the periphery of the drum. This may conveniently be done by anchoring one end of a rod ||2 in the upper Aend of the arm 92 and `extending this rod through the flange I0 of the framing. A compression spring ||3 is freely seated on the -end of the rod which projects through this ange and `a threaded nutv ||4 is applied to the rod for the purpose Aof adi-- justing the tension vof this spring as may be required for maintaining the belt under any dea. sired tension. As shown in the drawing, identical tension adjusting means may be provided `o the opposite side vof the drum. Y f

The advantage of this modified device'is that only one drum is required and that because theweb passes over the greater portion of the' pe-A riphery thereof, ample time is afforded for the solution expelled by the drum completely to saturate the web.

jUpon perusal of the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it is seen that I have y provided a simple and compact device in which a web or mat of material may become completely saturated with a fluid for particular purposes. It is further important to note that such complete impregnation is effected whether one or two drums are employed, the number to be used depending upon particular requirements in each case.

I do not, however, mean thereby to be limited to the exact combinations and arrangements illustrated in the drawings and above described, but reserve the right to embody such modifica.- ltions as will come within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

l. In a device for impregnating a web of matee rial with a fluid, a hollow shaft, a cylindrical drum secured to said shaft, said drum having an outer and an inner cylindrical shell in spaced relation to each other, said outer shell being foraminous, radial conduits from said hollow shaft through said inner shell to the space bee tween the two shells, and means for supplying fluid to said shaft, the said radial conduits, thev space between the two shells and the foramens ofthe outer shell into the said web.

2.` A device for impregnating a web of porou material with a fluid comprising, a frame, tracksY horizontally placed on the end plates of said frame, bearings slidably seated in said tracks.,A a pair of hollow shafts in said bearings in parallel relation to each other, a pair of drums on ,said shafts of a size to form therebetween a passage for said web, the outer cylindrical walls of said drums being foraminous, an inner cylindrical wall in the drums in spaced relation to said outer wall, conduits from the interior of the shaftsto said spaces, layers of wire screen material on the outer cylindrical surfaces of the drums, a reservoir, means for passing said fluid from said reservoir under pressure through said shafts, the conduits from the interior of the shafts, the space between said walls, the foramens of the outer walls and said screens into the web, trays below said drums for receiving surplus fluid from the drums, and conduits for returning said surplus fluid from said trays to the reservoir.

3; In a resin impregnating device, a hollow shaft closed at one end thereof, a cylindrical drum rigidly secured to said shaft, the said drum having an outer and an inner cylindrical shell in spaced relation to each other, radial conduits leading from the space within said hollow shaft to the space between said shells, the outer shell being foraminous, and a conduit leading into the other end of the shaft for feeding fluid under pressure through the shaft, the said radial conduits, the space between the shells and the foramens of the outer shell.

4. In a resin impregnating device, a hollow shaft closed at one end thereof, a cylindrical drum rigidly secured to said shaft, the said drum having an outer and an inner cylindricalshell in spaced relation to each other, radial conduits leading from the space within said hollow shaft to the space between said shells, the outer shell being foraminous, layers of wire screen covering the outer foraminous surface of the drum, and means for feeding fluid under pressure through the shaft, the said radial conduits, the space between the two shells, the foramens of the outer shell and the layers of wire screen.

5. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a hollow shaft, a cylindrical drum secured to said shaft, said drum including a foraminous outer cylindrical wall and a coaxial inner'cylindrical Wall in spaced relation thereto, conduits from said hollow shaft through the said inner wall, andmeans for forcing fluid under pressure through said shaft and conduits to thespace between the outer and inner wall of the drum.

6. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a framing, a pair of hollow shafts rotatable in said framing in parallel spaced relation to each other, a pair of cylindrical drums secured to said shaft of a size to form a passage therebetween for the web of material, each drum including a foraminous outer cylindrical wall and an inner wall in spaced relation thereto, conduits extending from said hollow shafts through said inner walls,-means for rotating said shafts in oppOsite directions to feed the material through said passage, means for feeding fluid under pressure through said shafts and conduits into the space between the walls and through the foramens thereofinto said web, and means for adjusting said shafts to vary the space between the drums to suit the thickness of web passing therebetween,

7. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a framing, a hollow shaft in said framing, a cylindrical drum secured to said shaft, said drum having an outer and an inner cylindrical shell and its outer cylindrical surface foraminous, conduits extending from said hollow shaft through said inner shell, a reservoir, means for feeding fluid under pressure from said reservoir through said shaft and conduits to the space between the shells of the drum and foramens thereof into said web, a traybelow said drum for receiving surplus fluid discharged fromy said web, and a conduit for returning said surplus material to said reservoir;

8. A device for impregnating a web of porous material with a fluid comprising, a frame, tracks horizontally placed on the end plates of said frame, bearings slidably seated in said tracks, a pair of hollow shafts in said bearings in parallel relation t0 each other, drums on said shafts, the outer cylindrical walls of said drums being foraminous, layers of wire screen on the drums, means for moving said bearings within the said tracks to vary the distance between the drums to form a passage between the drums for the web, means for feeding said fluid under pressure through one of Said shafts and the outer foraminous wall of the drum on said shaft, means for drawing air through the other shaft and the drum thereon, and a shield covering the portion of the surface of the latter drum which is not in contact with the web.

9. A device for impregnating a web of porous material with a fluid comprising, a frame, tracks horizontally placed on the end plates of said frame, bearings slidably seated in said tracks, a pair of hollow shafts in said bearings in parallel relation to each other, drums on said shafts, the outer cylindrical walls of said drums being foraminous, layers of wire screen on the drums, means for moving said bearings within the said tracks to vary the distance between the drums to form a passage between the drums for the web, means for feeding said fluid under pressure through one of said shafts and the outer foraminous wall of the drum on said shaft, means for drawing air through the other shaft and the drum thereon, and a detachable shield covering the portion vof the surface of the latter drum which is not in contact with the web.

10. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a pair of hollow shafts, a pair of cylindrical drums rigid on said -shafts in parallel spaced relation to each other, said drums having coaxial outer and inner walls, the cylindrical outer walls of said drums being foraminous, conduits from the shafts through said inner walls, the space between the drums forming a passage for the web of material, and means for feeding fluid under pressure through said shafts, the conduits, the spaces between the walls and through the foramens of the outer walls thereof into the web passing through the space between the drums.

1l. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a pair of hollow shafts, conduits to said shafts, a pair of cylindrical drums rigid on the shafts in parallel spaced relation to each other, said drums having coaxial outer` and inner walls, the cylindrical outer walls of said drums being foraminous, the space between the drums forming a passage for the web of material, other conduits extending from the shafts through said inner walls, means for feeding fluid under pressure through said conduits, the shafts, said other conduits and the inner walls into the spaces between the walls and through the foramens of the outer shells into the space between the drums. and slip joints between the conduits and the shafts.

12. In a device for impregnating a web of material with a fluid, a pair of hollow shafts, a pair of cylindrical drums rigid on said shafts in parallel spaced relation to each other, said drums having inner and outer walls in spaced relation to each other, the cylindrical outer walls of said drums being foraminous, the space between the drums forming a passage for the web of material, a reservoir, conduits from said reservoir to said shafts, other conduits from the shafts through the inner walls, a pump forcing uid from the reservoir through said conduits, the shafts and other conduits to the space between the walls and the foramens of the outer shells thereof into the web, and. slip joints between the conduits and 5 the shafts.

CARROL C. SACHS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 111e of this patent: i

UNITED STATES `PATENTS Number Name Date 189,828 Woodcock Apr. 17, 1877 15 Number 

